This blog is about my garden and the outdoors. I am new to photography but I am trying to show some of the pretty things that grow here in Michigan. I love the wild things who visit me and I dont mind if they eat a bit here and there. I like it more if they let me take their picture. As time goes on I think I will try to show you around the beautiful area that I live in as well as my garden. I try to use my own pictures as much as possible but will also use pictures from the web. If I inadvertently use your photo or work without permission please email me and I will remove it or give credit if you prefer. I will give credit when I know who the owner is. I would ask that anyone using my pictures do the same.... I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.......Psalm23:6

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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Today is bitter cold and a new dusting of snow. The squirrels came in a herd it seems. Spent a lot of time waving stuff out the windows and chasing them away so the birds could feed.
Mr and Mrs C came in and a couple of Blue Jays but mostly the Chickadees. The squirrels kept most away. I am going to have to do something about that. Get something to scare them. I wonder what they do not like in the way of noise. Hmmmmmmm.
Well I did manage a few pictures. So here are a few for today. The dried up Hydrangea still looks beautiful

A few seeds left for birds.

Here she is, a bit worried about the squirrels and plotting their demise.

Plotting from a different angle...........

The Blue Jay got in after I scrammed the squirrels

So here is Mr C who came looking for Mrs

The same birds come every day. Some days I am lucky to see someone different. The squirrels have passed the news and I think every one of them within a block or two come to check out the feeders. When I scram them they run in all directions along the wires and over tree tops. They are soon back though.

Friday, December 28, 2012

My garden is not cooperating so to heck with it.......we will talk about Sugar Plums seeing as I already did my other two blogs today.
Have you ever really wondered what they are. Sugar Plums? Well.......I am about to tell you. In a way they do belong here because it is, in a round about way to do with fruit. Dried fruit to be exact.

In our day and age we know more about the sugar plum fairy......

We read about them every Christmas......"The children were tucked all safe in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads"

Meanwhile what are sugar plums then?

So now you know. Dried fruits and other goodies, that back in the very ancient past were readily available as they are now.....I think I might make these next year.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Nothing going on in the garden.......nothing.
Mr Cardinal was in today. It was so cold outside. I just didn't get out there, nothing to see or do. I yelled out the window a couple of times at the squirrels. Why the hell arent they hibernating?

Sorry this is boring. I am boring myself. They are cute though. No one special stopped by.

The poodles lay on the heating pad and slept. Yawn!!!!!

Maybe I will move on to other news.............another post
Linking with Our World Tuesday.

Friday, December 21, 2012

We cleared off the feeders and had a lot of activity today, The Cardinals must have stuffed themselves yesterday, either that or I just missed them. The Tufted Titmouse came back. One of my favourites he is soooooo cute.

The woodpecker decided to spend some time actually working on the tree, probably just waiting for a turn. His head is blurry because it was jackhammering on the tree

The usual visitors, the Chickadees come in families. They are so small I worry about them. Their feathers are fluffed but I bet they really have to huddle to keep warm. I wish they could come inside for the winter. I would take care of all of them.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mr Cardinal came today and it was snowing. He sure shows up nice against the snow. We are supposed to get a real winter storm tonight through tomorrow. We shall see what happens. Meanwhile I put out a lot of food, but the squirrels are still out eating their hearts out instead of sleeping. Darn things. Well, they are cute but...........I want bird pictures and I missed the Tufted Titmouse this morning.

The other pretty visitor today

The Red Bellied Woodpecker. No idea why its called that? I do not see a red belly only a red head. He is becoming a regular visitor. There were two small woodpeckers this morning but I didn't get pictures because the dogs were outside at the time.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Not much is happening outside. The snow has about gone. Its been raining the last couple of days. I have been filling the bird feeders constantly but the darn squirrels have been raiding them. I put out a load of old walnuts and they have loved them. These are a few birds I saw today. The Cardinals are so bright that they are hard to miss.

He was sitting in the tree for quite awhile. The next time I looked he was at the feeder since the squirrel had left.

His Mrs was in the bush and on the ground. She didn't seem to want to come to the feeder.

The Mourning Doves are always around somewhere and hard to spot when on the ground. They blend in really well.

If I had gone outside I could have got some pictures of the pansies that are still blooming and there are still a few mums out there. Nothing great to take pictures of though.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

I had a Christmas cactus for many years. It got so old and straggly it was woody. I eventually got rid of the poor old thing. I do have a small one now and will probably buy another. The ones I have had before have bloomed at Christmas and also at Easter.
This one is a hot pink.

I will try to do a drawing of one of these, I love the flowers they are so exotic.

Such a pretty thing.

The African violets bloom non stop all year. The secret is to find a spot they will enjoy. These ones have found their nitch.

They seem to take turns blooming. This one is the pale pink and there is a burgundy and two tone and a violet one in the basket. Someone bought me them when Buttons died. So I have tried hard to keep them going.

I brought these little succulents inside in the hope of getting them through the winter. So far they seem to be doing well enough

I did bring in a bunch of Geraniums.They are straggly but I will work with them this time. I somehow lost touch with them the last time I brought some inside for the winter.

It would be nice if they thrived that way I would have some nice starts next Spring

Monday, December 10, 2012

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. We have it now and I am not sure that it's going to leave for awhile. I suppose I should just enjoy a White Christmas? It's just such a pain to drive in.
I went outside to see if I could get any good pictures but really........nothing.
The birds feeders had hats on.

The front garden didn't yield anything spectacular either.

So I came inside and was working on some turkey stew. The left over turkey from Thanksgiving usually ends in a stew and it is always so good. I needed the room in the freezer so.........two cartons of Chicken broth. Salt and some onion/garlic salt, some left over soup from yesterday (Bean and bacon) and a large can of chunky mixed vegetables.I also put in two cans of butter beans, I love butter beans. I added some frozen beans that had just a few left in the packet and some frozen peas. I also threw in a can of corn..............I let that cook all day.

By the time it was ready I just had to add a little more salt and it was good to go. Left over crusty bread and yummy creamy butter. It made a great meal for a cold day and enough left for tomorrow

Followers

Grab my Buttons if you would please

grab my buttons

'Know that the Lord Himself is God. It is He who has made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.'

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream."- Barbara Winkler

I know a bank where wild thyme blows...where Oxlips and the nodding violet grows...Quite overcanopied with lucious woodbine...With sweet musk roses with aglantine...

...William Shakespeare...
“Once in a golden hour, I cast to earth a seed, and up there grew a flower, that others called a weed.” ~ Alfred Tennyson
There are fairies in my garden

May2012

Yellow Finch

~~AN OLD IRISH BLESSING~~
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share.
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer...
"The Highest and most lofty trees have the most reason to dread the thunder"....Rollin
Think Spring
'Tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes!
~William Wordsworth

Spring 2012

January 2012

Mr and Mrs Cardinal
House Finch

Moving Into December........

Winter is on the way.....
Got to fatten up the local wildlife

Move into Autumn..........

November 2011
Gotta Bury me nuts.......
Its a windy day and so Mrs C goes to the bird feeder
While Mr C sulks in the tree with his crest blowing in the wind.
A few visitors for Thanksgiving.....
All wearing their best clothes.
This guy sporting his best vest
This is another little finch, I think a yellow finch.
Holly and Vinca Vine
October 2011
Sumac
Blue blue October sky.
The Ivy on my porch
Lavender seeds.
Ornamental grasses, found on our walk
Another pretty one
September 2011
I took these two out in the garden today.....
See the spider in the petals? She is thinking of building a web maybe?

Fun Things......

A few fun ideas for your garden. If the kids left you any old trucks after they left home, or maybe you find one at a garage sale.......I planted pansies, they lasted all summer

Some of the neighbours.....

Carry on, we are leaving...
Nosy?
Canadians on their way home?

Summer visitors

Mourning Doves.........

Blue Jay Family visit today................

What a noise they make. The babies and mum trying to keep order. Shrieking across the neighborhood. I think there were 3 or 4 babies.
Another member of the family
They are maturing now and hungry,

Nuthatch.........

Baby Robin...........

Caught the mummy feeding this baby but didn't have the camera in time. Have a good long life baby Robin

Mr Cardinal

Finch

This little finch is helping me with the bugs.
Am I a finch or a Sparrow.
I know I'm cute......feed me

Chickadee dee dee.......

Cheeky chap
The feeders full woo hoo
So's this one,,,
Looking for bugs, I am so cute

Tufted Titmouse...........

This chap looks haggard, its so hot out he is glad to find a snack
A Happy Titmouse
The Junco.....such a cutie.

Mr Squirrel

Caught in the act, doesn't he look guilty. Stealing bird food.

Mr Chips.............

He is stocking up on bird food. He has a home in our wall and has raised several families there.
For once he does not have his face full........

Morels...Yum

Cute catapillar

Found this guy in Paradise, ready to become a chrysalis he was looking for a place to hide
This one was still eating and not at all ready to make the big change. So pretty.
What is a weed? I love danylions. They are not much different than mums and you can eat their leaves. They are so bright in the Spring. They are welcome in my garden. I pull them when they are done.
Caught this guy getting some nectar
Dandylion clocks.....
I love fuzzy catapillars. Not so creepy
Here is another one of a different colour

Butterfly.

Mourning Cloak butterfly....
This little beauty was at the farm
A Buckeye butterfly
This looks like a Cabbage white.........

This little chap is from Presque Isle

Pilleated Woodpecker

Taken outside our back door at Paradise
Golden Rod by the side of the road.
We saw these Sand Hill Cranes getting breakfast
They look quite young because they are not as big as the ones we usually see.

Bridget R.I.P

English Dormouse
Bijou talks to all who walk by.....always something to say about it